Then and now: A history of the NHS

Life expectancy

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• The birth of the NHS

When the NHS was founded in 1948, the life expectancy for men was 66, and for women, 71. Today those figures are 77.2 and 81.5.

Deaths

Over the past 60 years, the proportion of all deaths caused by cancer has risen, from 16.9 to 27 per cent. Those caused by heart disease have fallen from 35.4 to 34.6 per cent; by stroke have fallen from 11.5 to 9.6 per cent; by bronchitis and other respiratory diseases have fallen from 10.4 to 4.6 per cent; and from tuberculosis have fallen from 4.7 to 0.7 per cent.

Childbirth

In 1948 there were 86 deaths per 100,000 total live births. Sixty years later there are just 6.2.

Infant mortality

When the NHS was born, there were 34.5 deaths for every 1,000 live births. Today there are just five.

Vaccinations

The average child in 1948 would receive just two routine vaccinations: smallpox and diphtheria. By 2008 that list had grown to seven: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, influenza, MMR and meningitis C.

Smoking

In 1948, 65 per cent of Britain's male population smoked. By 2008 that number had dropped to just 25 per cent. Among women, the figure has fallen from 41 to 22 per cent.

Budget

Bevan's creation had a total budget of £280m for the UK. In 2008, the NHS in England was allocated just £89.5m.

Drug budget

In 1948, £31.7m was allocated to spend on drugs. Today that figure tops £11bn.

Prescriptions

Sixty years ago, prescriptions were free. Today they cost £7.10.

Staff

The NHS was launched with a total hospital staff of 68,013, not including doctors. In 2008 the NHS as a whole now employs more than 376,730 nurses, and thousands more doctors, healthcare assistants and ancillary staff.

GPs

In 1950 there were approximately 21,450 GPs in Britain. By last year that number had grown to 33,360.

Cost per head

In 1948 the annual cost of the NHS per head, per lifetime, was £200. Now, that figure has risen by more than 800 per cent to £1,700.

Patients

The NHS now sees and treats more patients than ever before. Last year, on an average day, 50,000 people were seen in A&E alone.